White's 38 points powers Celtics past Heat in Game 4
The Boston Celtics took down the Miami Heat,102-88 , in Game 4 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs at the Kaseya Center on Monday night.
The Celtics (3-1) got off to a hot start in Game 4, turning a 10-point lead from the first quarter into a 17-point cushion heading into halftime. Boston’s dominant performance in the first half was due to its defense, as Miami (1-3) was held to 36 points heading into the break. The Celtics kept their foot on the pedal in the second half, as they extended their lead to as much as 28 points. The Heat tried to keep it interesting in the fourth quarter, but the deficit was too big to overcome for the home team.
Derrick White led the Celtics with a playoff career-high 38 points to go along with four rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Jayson Tatum registered a double-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Jaylen Brown chipped in 17 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals, while Jrue Holiday supplied 11 points, six rebounds and six assists. Al Horford led the bench with seven points, eight rebounds and two assists, and he started in the second half after Kristaps Porzingis exited in the second quarter due to tightness in his right calf. Boston shot 41.9 percent from the field, including 14-for-37 from three.
Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 25 points, 17 rebounds and five assists. Tyler Herro tallied 19 points, four rebounds and four assists, while Caleb Martin chipped in 18 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Patty Mills led the bench with nine points, while Jaime Jaquez added nine points, two rebounds and two assists. The Heat shot 40.7 percent from the field, including 9-for-33 from beyond the arc.
With the win, the Celtics hold a 3-1 series and can advance to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs with a win in Game 5 at TD Garden on Wednesday, May 1.
The Celtics (3-1) got off to a hot start in Game 4, turning a 10-point lead from the first quarter into a 17-point cushion heading into halftime. Boston’s dominant performance in the first half was due to its defense, as Miami (1-3) was held to 36 points heading into the break. The Celtics kept their foot on the pedal in the second half, as they extended their lead to as much as 28 points. The Heat tried to keep it interesting in the fourth quarter, but the deficit was too big to overcome for the home team.
Derrick White led the Celtics with a playoff career-high 38 points to go along with four rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Jayson Tatum registered a double-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Jaylen Brown chipped in 17 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals, while Jrue Holiday supplied 11 points, six rebounds and six assists. Al Horford led the bench with seven points, eight rebounds and two assists, and he started in the second half after Kristaps Porzingis exited in the second quarter due to tightness in his right calf. Boston shot 41.9 percent from the field, including 14-for-37 from three.
Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 25 points, 17 rebounds and five assists. Tyler Herro tallied 19 points, four rebounds and four assists, while Caleb Martin chipped in 18 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Patty Mills led the bench with nine points, while Jaime Jaquez added nine points, two rebounds and two assists. The Heat shot 40.7 percent from the field, including 9-for-33 from beyond the arc.
With the win, the Celtics hold a 3-1 series and can advance to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs with a win in Game 5 at TD Garden on Wednesday, May 1.
Thunder Tops Pelicans, 97-89
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the New Orleans Pelicans, 97-89, at Smoothie King Center on Monday night in Game 4 of their Western Conference quarterfinal-round series. The Thunder has won the series, 4-0.
The Thunder (4-0) came into the night knowing they had the ability to gain a priceless rest advantage on their semifinal-round opponent, either the Mavericks or Clippers, if they were able to pull off a win. However, they unsurprisingly encountered a feisty and desperate opponent in the Pelicans (0-4), which battled them to a draw in the first quarter and trailed by only one at halftime. New Orleans then managed to take a one-point lead into the fourth quarter with a strong third period and then held as five-point advantage with just over eight minutes remaining before OKC finished on a 22-9 run over the final 8:19 for the close-out victory.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams co-led the Thunder with 24 points while adding 10 and eight rebounds, respectively. They also posted two blocks and two steals, respectively. Chet Holmgren furnished 14 points, nine boards and five assists. Josh Giddey matched Holmgren's scoring and also produced three rebounds, one assist and one block. Luguentz Dort tallied 11 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.
CJ McCollum paced the Pelicans with 20 points, adding six rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. Jonas Valanciunas generated a 19-point, 13-rebound double-double that included one assist and one steal. Naji Marshall provided 16 points, three rebounds, one assist and one block. Herbert Jones supplied 11 points, four rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block.
The Thunder now await the winner of the Clippers-Mavericks series, which is tied 2-2.
The Thunder (4-0) came into the night knowing they had the ability to gain a priceless rest advantage on their semifinal-round opponent, either the Mavericks or Clippers, if they were able to pull off a win. However, they unsurprisingly encountered a feisty and desperate opponent in the Pelicans (0-4), which battled them to a draw in the first quarter and trailed by only one at halftime. New Orleans then managed to take a one-point lead into the fourth quarter with a strong third period and then held as five-point advantage with just over eight minutes remaining before OKC finished on a 22-9 run over the final 8:19 for the close-out victory.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams co-led the Thunder with 24 points while adding 10 and eight rebounds, respectively. They also posted two blocks and two steals, respectively. Chet Holmgren furnished 14 points, nine boards and five assists. Josh Giddey matched Holmgren's scoring and also produced three rebounds, one assist and one block. Luguentz Dort tallied 11 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.
CJ McCollum paced the Pelicans with 20 points, adding six rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. Jonas Valanciunas generated a 19-point, 13-rebound double-double that included one assist and one steal. Naji Marshall provided 16 points, three rebounds, one assist and one block. Herbert Jones supplied 11 points, four rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block.
The Thunder now await the winner of the Clippers-Mavericks series, which is tied 2-2.
Nuggets Defeat Lakers, 108-106, Advance to Conference Semis
The Denver Nuggets defeated the visiting Los Angeles Lakers, 108-106, in Game 5 of the Western Conference First-Round Playoffs at Ball Arena on Monday.
Denver wins this series, 4-1.
There were 10 ties and 16 lead changes in this game, with neither team grabbing a double-digit lead. Los Angeles actually had the lead at the half for the fifth time in this series, but Denver rode a 31-26 third quarter to their win. Jamal Murray was the hero, hitting a game-winning jumper with 4.0 seconds remaining. The Lakers didn't have a timeout and missed their halfcourt prayer at the buzzer. Neither team led by more than three points over the closing eight minutes. The Nuggets shot 42 percent from three-point range (16-of-38) and 89 percent from the free-throw line, while the Lakers shot 29 percent from long range (10-of-35) and 67 percent from the charity stripe. Denver also outscored LA in second-chance points, 15-8.
The Lakers (1-4) were led by LeBron James, finishing with 30 points, nine rebounds, 11 assists and four steals. Austin Reaves registered 19 points, three rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks. Anthony Davis accrued 17 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and two blocks, while D'Angelo Russell amassed 14 points and six assists.
The Nuggets (4-1) were led by Murray, collecting 32 points, three rebounds and seven assists. Michael Porter Jr provided 26 points, four rebounds and two steals. Nikola Jokic tallied 25 points, 20 rebounds and nine assists, while Aaron Gordon generated seven points, 13 rebounds and six assists.
That marks the end for LA. Denver will play the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Semi-Finals beginning on Saturday.
Denver wins this series, 4-1.
There were 10 ties and 16 lead changes in this game, with neither team grabbing a double-digit lead. Los Angeles actually had the lead at the half for the fifth time in this series, but Denver rode a 31-26 third quarter to their win. Jamal Murray was the hero, hitting a game-winning jumper with 4.0 seconds remaining. The Lakers didn't have a timeout and missed their halfcourt prayer at the buzzer. Neither team led by more than three points over the closing eight minutes. The Nuggets shot 42 percent from three-point range (16-of-38) and 89 percent from the free-throw line, while the Lakers shot 29 percent from long range (10-of-35) and 67 percent from the charity stripe. Denver also outscored LA in second-chance points, 15-8.
The Lakers (1-4) were led by LeBron James, finishing with 30 points, nine rebounds, 11 assists and four steals. Austin Reaves registered 19 points, three rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks. Anthony Davis accrued 17 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and two blocks, while D'Angelo Russell amassed 14 points and six assists.
The Nuggets (4-1) were led by Murray, collecting 32 points, three rebounds and seven assists. Michael Porter Jr provided 26 points, four rebounds and two steals. Nikola Jokic tallied 25 points, 20 rebounds and nine assists, while Aaron Gordon generated seven points, 13 rebounds and six assists.
That marks the end for LA. Denver will play the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Semi-Finals beginning on Saturday.